Republican News · Thursday 16 January 2002

Murt Qualter

Republicans all over Galway were saddened by the death of life-long republican Murt Qualter in November.

Born in Athenry in 1935, Murt was educated at St Jarlath's College in Tuam and UCG. Murt's first vote in an election was a vote for himself, standing for Sinn Féin in 1957 at the age of 21. He ran again in 1958, when he polled 3,758 votes.

Murt was a gifted orator, and managed to effectively communicate his ideas on politics and society. In one memorable episode during an open-air election rally, Murt took to the stage which was placed near a Fianna Fáil banner which read "Vote Fianna Fáil - Keeping the Wheels turning". He declared that "the only wheels Fianna Fáil were turning, were the wheels bringing our young people to the emigration boats."

Murt had a lifelong love and passion for drama and the Arts, which began with his days in UCG's Dramsoc. He was the first to produce Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" on this side of the Atlantic, a play about censorship and MacCarthyism - a subject republicans know only too well.

After obtaining a BA in Classics, Murt taught as a secondary school teacher in Achill Island, Co Mayo, where he met his wife, Margaret. Murt returned to his native Galway in 1981, taking up a post as lecturer in the RTC, where he worked until his retirement in 1995.

Murt had an encyclopaedic knowledge of the history of the republican struggle in Galway City and county, listening and learning from his elders in Athenry. Seán Hynes and John Joe Ruane were two of his closest comrades, whose passing greatly saddened Murt. It is a great tribute to Murt that through the sometimes turbulent changes within the movement, people from all sides respected him. His humanity and passion for the rights of all oppressed people earned him this respect.

Murt remained a committed republican all his life and was always willing to lend his support, doing so as recently as the election last May. Murt made a valuable contribution to debate within the party, with his strong commitment to the peace strategy and to the right to life of the unborn child. Murt enjoyed his last years reading history books and supporting Athenry's many hurling successes, but his greatest joy was the birth of his first grandchild, Roisín. He will be greatly missed by his many friends and comrades in Galway, Achill and Dublin.

The republican family in Galway would like to extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Margaret and children Úna, Eirene and Ruairí.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dhílis